THE GARDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25735, 5 January 1945, Page 5

THE GARDEN

Contributed by D. TANNOCK, A.H.R.H.S.

NATIVE CLIMBING PLANTS For gardening purposes, native plants can conveniently be divided into the following four groups:—(l) Trees and shrubs which are suitable for grouping in the shrubbery, for creating a portion of native bush, or for lawn specimens, or hedges and shelter belts. (2) Herbaceous plants suitable for grouping in a mixed border, for forming special borders, and for growing on rock and scree gardens. Most of these are found on upland meadows or alpine heights. (3) Climbing plants suitable for growing up through trees and shrubs, for clothing rustic and trellis fences, arches, and arbours, and also for trailing over clay and rocky banks. (4) Ferns, many of which can be grown in the open or with only partial shade. Most ferns, however, require a house of some description so that the necessary degree of moisture can be maintained during dry, withering weather.

Though there are not a great many j species of useful climbers, they are very abundant and widely distributed, mostly growing up or through the native trees and shrubs. Of these, some are destructive weeds, which, taking advantage of the disturbance of the balance of Nature by the removal of large pines and other forest trees, threaten to swamp the remaining under and secondary growth. The native clematis, Clematis indivisa, is I probably the most hcautiful of cur native climbers, and it is a most accommodating plant, for It will thrive among the trees and shrubs, diaping portions of them with garlands of beautiful white flowers, the male members being up to four Inches across. It is not a robber, nor does it try to smother the plants it grows on. I It will thrive on a wire netting or trellis fence, is easily propagated by means of seed and the young plants can be collected in the bush. Other species, though not so attractive, are quite good, such as C. h.exasepala', which has brighter green leaves and smaller white flcwers. C. Colensoi, which has yellow flowers and is usually found among manuka, C. Afoliata is a remarkable looking plant with leafless branches and yellow Rowers, and C. Foetida (which does not deserve such a name), which has sweet-scented greenish-yellow flowers. The Rubus or Lawyer family is also widely distributed, and it is found growinß on the edge of the forest, or over the secondary growth, where its bright glossy leaves and white, sweetly scented flowers, which are borne in immense panicles and followed by reddish-orange fruits, arc attractive. Like the clematis, the male flowers of the lawyer are larger and more conspicuous than the females. If this plant could be crossed with the garden raspberry, and the seedlings bore fruits as large and ns useful, it would become verv popular with the birds. Rubus cissoides is leafless and in the open forms n tangled bush which never flowers, but in the shade it develops leaves and flowers and is also attractive and interesting. Both bush-lawyers have curved prickles on I their stems, midribs, and leaf stalks by I which thev hold on to their support. There are two other lawyers, R. Parvus and R. Barkeri, the latter being considered to be a hvbrid between parvus and another species. Both are more like creeping than climbing plants, but they arc I good spreaders, and are very useful foi covering a clay or a rocky bank. The leaves turn a beautiful bronze colour in Parsonsia heterophylla is a slcndei. famh loftv climber not uncommon in the bush around Dunedin. Its flowers, which are white and scented, arc borne in large clusters, and these are followed by long, cylindrical capsules. Senecio sciadophilus is a climbing member of the daisy tain by. which both creeps and climbs. It has yellow flowers and grows fairly fast ' Clianthus puniceus. the Kaka-bill, can Pe cither a climber or a spreader for covering a bank. In its rightful place it should be' a plant, which is looked up t-. to discern its real beauty, and it should be more generally planted in gaidens. i Stipa arundinacca is a handsome bam-boo-like grass which scrambles over small shrubs, and is suitable for covering a bank Calvstcgla tuguriorum forms masses of slender stems and clambers over the smaller shrubs on the margins of the bush. It is not to be confused with Calystegia sepium (the bindweed), which is a most undesirable weed and most difficult to get lid of. Rhipogonum seandens (the supplejack) is a lofty climber witli black naked stems and handsome, bright red fruits. On its general appearance it docs not seem lo be associated with the lily family. Tetrapathaca (passfflora). known as the New Zealand passion flower, is a rampant climber with glossy dark-green leaves and rounded orange fruit. It soon clambers up trees, and rather than damage them, it adds to their beauty. It can be propagated by means of layers or cuttings and also by seed. There are six species of the rata family which climb up the stems of trees and over rocks and banks by means of roots. Metrosiderod hyperlcifolia is the commonest of these, its flowers being small In latcrial racemes with petals of white and pink. All the native climbers, witli the exception of muhlcnbeckia, adopt the principle of live and let live, for.they do no damage to the plants over or up which they climb, and they add considerably to the beauty and interest of a group of native trees and shrubs. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Now that the weather is warmer, there is greater development in the vegetable garden, and potatoes which at one ,tinie seemed to bo all shaws are now developing tubers. It will not do any harm to tie up or stake the shaws which are inclined to spread over a greater area than thev should in order to make room for the planting of winter greens and the sowing of turnips, swedes, carrots, lettuce, and endive.

The main crop of celery can be planted now in trenches which were well manured and prepared some time ago. The plants should be lifted carefully from the boxes with a good ball of soil, planted 12 inches apart, and well watered in. If the weather continues to be warm and dry, spray the plants overhead in the evenings and dust them occasionally with soot. Leeks can also be planted six inches deep in holes made with a dibber or the handle of a rake. The leaves and roots should be trimmed a little. After dropping a plant in each hole water them ,in. but do not push the soil in with the dibber. Broccoli, kale, and savoys should be planted out now, but owing to the late development of potatoes and peas the positions they were intended to occupy may not be available. Instead of leaving the plants to become drawn and spindly in the seed beds, they can be lined out in rows six to nine inches apart, and can later be lifted, with a ball of soil, and ti-ans-ferred to their permanent positions with little check. Shallots should ,be ripening now. but, like other crops, they are slower than usual. They can be prised up a little with the fork to hasten ripening.

Tomatoes planted in a warm, sheltered place against a wall or fence are now making good growth, and are flowering. They should be tied up to their supports and all side shoots removed. A little weak liquid manure once a week will also help growth, and, given a reasonable season they should form four bunches of fruit on each plant.